Description of Idea: In this lesson plan students learn about rhythm, how it relates to music, and how rhythm is felt through the body.

Expectations: It is expected that students gain an understanding of what rhythm is, how rhythm can be created with different parts of the body, and how well the student can copy a rhythm created by the teacher.

Student Groupings:
Each student in the class is expected to participate in the activities of the lesson, so that an understanding of rhythm can be attained.

Teaching Strategies:
Part 1: Focus
The teacher describes what rhythms and beats are.The teacher initiates a discussion by asking the students to describe where they have heard different types of rhythm, and then the teacher discusses the students responses and talk about why rhythm is important.

Part 2: Introducing the Art
Teacher discusses with students how rhythm can be felt from the way we use words and language. To demonstrate this idea to the students, the teacher claps simple rhythmic pattern and have the students repeat the pattern that was created.
The teacher selects nursery rhymes and use the words to create different rhythmic patterns.The teacher has the students say the nursery rhymes line by line and have the students clap the rhythm of the rhyme as they say it.
The teacher introduces other ways that rhythm can be felt, such as through the feet by stomping, dancing, etc.

Assessment Strategies:
*Can the student repeat the rhythmic patterns of the nursery rhyme?
*Can the student express individual interpretation of the rhythm with clapping and stomping?
*Can the student identify that story telling can have rhythmic patterns?

Adaptations: For ESL students who are at the intermediate level of English, this assignment can be adapted so that the students can bring in music from their cultures and have them try and create rhythms. This allows the students to have a personal connection to the lesson plan and can make it easier to understand the concept of rhythm with music that is familiar to them.